This document presents a conceptual framework for selecting and using tribal fish and shellfish consumption rates for purposes of estimating site-related risks at EPA hazardous waste cleanup sites in Puget Sound and the portion of the Strait of Georgia that is within the United States. It is specifically intended for use at sites that are addressed through the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, also known as Superfund).

EPA will consult with tribes on site-specific exposure assumptions and cleanup decisions at each Superfund and RCRA site within a tribal fishing area or on tribal land. The framework’s function is to assist EPA Region 10 staff in managing RCRA and CERCLA cleanups in consideration of information that reflects tribal exposures and concerns.

• Framework for Selecting and Using Tribal Fish and Shellfish Consumption Rates for Risk-Based Decision Making at CERCLA and RCRA Cleanup Sites in Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia (PDF)(49 pp, 246 K, August 2007)